Final Blog

This certainly has been a crazy semester–both good and bad times.

My final group project told the story of two parents whose daughter was killed in a drunk-driving related accident and the Texas law that passed to have her name remembered on a sign next to the highway where she was killed.

I will say that it was different to be making a story about a parent’s loss. Even a little difficult; you are asking someone to talk about an experience no parent should have to go through. But that is our job as journalists and we do it because we believe that change comes from tragedy.

Blogging to Death

I can honestly say, I am not that surprised after reading about Blogging.

Two deaths occurred in recent time, both were bloggers and both had massive heart attacks. But the two man were in their late fifties and early sixties, so it is not to say that blogging killed the men. But, nevertheless, blogging is becoming a business that is causing sleep deprivation, weight loss and gain, and extreme stress caused by the nonstop updating of the internet.

There is no question to some bloggers that they are passionate about their jobs, and that there is money to be made. When you work for the internet you have to be prepared for the stress it puts on you.

The Ninth Ward

The Washington Post Piece is a perfect example of what we are learning in class on a technical level, but falls short of reaching us on an emotional level.

It follows the rules of editing (wide, medium and close-up shots are used) and has a beginning, middle and end. The audio was used perfectly well also. But I did not feel the emotional punch while watching this. Probably because there have been many stories done on the same situation, only done better. I know Lisa Parisot is not crazy about music, but I believe it would have added more. We know of the woman’s problem and struggle, and yet I felt like I wanted to know more.

Soundslides

EN GARDE!

Clinton in San Antonio

North Texas writer Arlinda and I traveled to Saint Marys in San Antonio to watch Hillary Clinton speak to supporters before her big debate against Barack Obama on the 21st in Austin.

The event was quite an experience, to say the least: television cameras lined up in unison, reporters preparing their words, I even had the privilege of meeting one of my favorite photographers, Lisa Krantz.

What does the future hold?

I read in the New York Times about the current demise of national newspapers that is costing many journalists their jobs. It certainly does frighten me when I think of what kind of job I am going to get when I graduate

Hailey’s

 

 

 

It was Sunday night; after witnessing one of the biggest upsets in sports history I had to go to hailey’s to shoot an assignment for the paper. I was hesitant. I did not want to go out on a Sunday night and shoot a picture. but after forcing myself to go there I did not regret it. Sure, the place was dead but I got to talk to the DJs, including Lisa, whom I’ve had the privilege of meeting–and shooting for the scene last semester–again. It really is great to be shooting again. I don’t feel naked anymore.

Feb 4. Assignment

http://www.slate.com/id/2061470 (Enron Game)

What’s so intersting about the Enron story is that it does not answer questions about one of the most explosive scandals in U.S. history. And how could it? Everybody was a suspect and everybody was blaming someone else. But this game is clever in an absurd way. It’s like Trivival Pursuit in that you learn something about key people in Enron. What this story does-or trys to do-is not give you answers, but lets it try for you to decide. There is no bias.

http://www.ljworld.com/specials/incoldblood/ (In Cold Blood)

What is so interesting about this website is that it seems to attempt to get inside the head of Capote and how he researched for his masterpiece, In Cold Blood. It chronologicaly follows the turn of events that led to Capote write about the infamous killing of a family in a small town in Kansas and the impact it has had on the town thirty years later. The writing is in depth; it presents us photographs revealing Capote and the murderers, and a visual map of the town. Even though the story is in depth, it feels two dimensional and would it been outstanding if another form of media were used.

Junior Detectives

It was family fun science event day, again, at the EESAT building. I covered it last year and nothing has changed, except the new faces running around learning about forensics.

History

 

In my History class we are learning about the present day Middle East and the meaning of Islam. There are members of my family, all Catholic, who look down on Islam because of the actions of religios extremists who butcher what Muhammad taught to the then-paganistic Arabs. What he taught was simple: “There is no God but God.” Every Christian and Jew believes in that one sentance. Where did it all go wrong? That’s what so interesting-and tragic-about History: it easily changes due to an action by one individual or a civilzation. You cannot help but wonder what might have changed if certain events turned out differently, or where we are heading as a race of beings. Right now I am finishing up a paper for 2320 about a legal scuffle between scientists and creationists. Even those two groups go all the way back and it has not been a pleasant history. Where are we heading? When I asked myself that I was reminded of this video.